Device for detecting an analyte in a bodily fluid

ABSTRACT

A device is proposed for detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid. The device comprises at least one test element with at least one two-dimensional evaluation region. The device furthermore comprises at least one spatially resolving optical detector having a plurality of pixels. The detector is designed to image at least part of the test element onto an image region. In the process, at least part of the evaluation region is imaged onto an evaluation image region. The detector is matched to the test element such that a predetermined minimum number of pixels is provided for each dimension within the evaluation image region. The pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement. The matrix arrangement has pixel rows and pixel columns, wherein the pixel rows are arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the evaluation region and/or of the evaluation image region.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/952,683, filed Nov. 25, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/745,371, filed Jan. 18, 2013, which is acontinuation of PCT/EP2011/061783, filed Jul. 11, 2011, which claimspriority to EP 10 170 088.8, filed Jul. 20, 2010, all of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a device for detecting at least one analytein a bodily fluid by means of at least one test element and preferablyby means of at least one lancet with a capillary. This disclosurefurthermore relates to a method for recognizing an evaluation region ofa device for detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid. Suchdevices and methods are used, in particular, in diagnostics forqualitatively or quantitatively detecting one or more analytes, forexample one or more metabolites such as, e.g., blood glucose, in bodilyfluids such as, e.g., blood or interstitial fluid.

The prior art has disclosed a multiplicity of devices for detecting atleast one analyte in a bodily fluid. Here, use is generally made of testelements which have at least one test chemical. This test chemicalcontains at least one detection reagent which, when it comes intocontact with the at least one analyte, carries out an analyte-specificreaction, which can for example be detected by electrochemical and/oroptical means.

In addition to individual systems, in which the sample of bodily fluidis obtained and analyzed separately, integrated systems in particularhave prevailed in recent times. By way of example, integrated systemsfor determining the blood glucose are composed of means for obtainingblood and means for determining glucose. In the step of obtaining blood,some systems make use of a flat lancet with a semi-open microcapillary,in which the capillary typically has a width of 120 μm and a length of 4mm. After obtaining blood by means of a piercing process, for exampleinto a finger tip, an ear lobe or a forearm, the blood taken up into thecapillary is often transferred onto a test field of the test element byvirtue of causing the lancet to approach said test field, for example bybeing pressed onto the latter. As a result, there likewise is thecreation of an approximately 120 μm wide print of the capillary on thetest element, for example a strip-shaped test element, which changesdepending on the blood glucose content and depending on the testchemical recipe. In the case of optical systems, this change generallyconsists of a local change in color, which can be measured byreflectance photometry. In principle, details of this method aresufficiently well known from the literature.

Here, in principle, there is a problem in that measuring the discoloringof the test fields by means of non-spatially-resolved sensors, i.e., bymeans of for example a single photodiode, is problematic in that theposition of the grayscale discoloring or discoloring on the test fieldin this case would have to be captured very precisely by mechanicalmeans and with low mechanical and/or optical tolerances. This isdifficult to achieve in the case of a lancet that can move for piercingand for obtaining blood. By way of example, if a tolerance in thelateral position of less than 10% is to be achieved, the positionaltolerance in the case of a capillary with a width of 120 μm must notexceed approximately ±10 μm; this is a significant challenge from amechanical point of view.

It is for this reason that the use of a spatially resolved detector,e.g., a CMOS camera, has been proposed a number of times. By way ofexample, U.S. Pat. No. 6,847,451 B1 describes devices and methods fordetermining the concentration of an analyte in a physiological sample.Here, use is made of at least one light source and at least one detectorarray, as well as of means for determining whether a sufficient amountof sample is present on a plurality of different surfaces. Inter alia,it is proposed here to use a CCD array as detector array. Alternativesto the spatially resolved detection include, for example, spatiallyresolved illumination or a mixture of such methods, such as, e.g.,methods based on line-by-line scanning.

U. S. Publication No. 2004/0095360 A1 describes a user interface of animage recording device and an image processing method which can forexample be used to evaluate biological samples such as pregnancy testsor drugs tests. In the process, a high-resolution camera sensor,designed as a color sensor, is used for actually capturing the image.Inter alia, it is proposed here that use is made of a line and areference line within the test.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,081 B2 describes a method for automaticallyrecognizing a test result of a sample zone on a test strip. In theprocess, an image of a barcode and an image of at least one test stripare recorded. A color response of the test strip to a sample applicationis determined. However, in order to resolve a barcode, it is inherentlynecessary to use a detector with a high resolution and hence with alarge number of pixels.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,214 describes a device and a method for determiningsuitable points to take a sample. In the process, an array detector isscanned over a code present in the form of a microfilm, with a reductionin the data to be recorded being achieved as a result of the specifictype of encoding. A challenge in this method consists of recognizingmoving parts and, in the process, of in particular capturing informationin digital form.

German Patent No. DE 196 31 086 A1 has disclosed an active pixel imagesensor row, which uses protective rings, protective diffusions or acombination of these two techniques in order to prevent electrodesgenerated at the edge of an active region from being incident on animage sensor matrix. U.S. Publication No. 2007/0046803 A1 has discloseda CMOS image sensor with a plurality of active pixel rows and oneoptically black pixel row. The optically black pixel row is activated inorder to generate a respective optically black signal when each of atleast two of the active pixel rows are activated. Both documents relateto specific aspects of the chip design of optically sensitive chips.

However, known approaches for evaluating images of test elements havethe problem that an image has to be detected with a comparatively highresolution and has to be analyzed, for example using pattern recognitionmethods. In this case, a comparatively high resolution for example meansa total of 1 million pixels, with, however, pixel arrays with a smallernumber of pixels also being used in principle. Nevertheless, it is stillnecessary to transmit a large amount of data to peripheral electronicswithin a short space of time, e.g., 100 ms, and to use the latter toevaluate said data online; this significantly restricts the service lifeof the battery, particularly in the case of portable, e.g., handheld,instruments due to the high clock rates of the electronics required forthis and due to the large number of computational operations. A partialsolution is offered by pre-processing the image information inperipheral electronics. Such methods and devices are described in, forexample, European Patent No. EP 1 351 189 A1, U.S. Publication No.2005/0013494 A1 or in U.S. Publication No. 2003/0123087 A1.Alternatively, pre-processing in part already lends itself directly to aCMOS sensor, as described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,702 B1.

A method of a histogram evaluation was proposed as an alternative to aconventional on-chip or off-chip pattern recognition which subdividesthe image into wetted, i.e., glucose-information carrying, and unwettedregions for further analysis. This method is described in EuropeanPatent No. EP 1 843 148 A1. Here, a frequency distribution isestablished for the detected light intensities, with the frequencydistribution having at least a first maximum caused by unwetted portionsand a second maximum caused by wetted portions. The concentration of theanalyte is established from the frequency distribution. However, eventhough the histogram analysis, which for example is implemented directlyon the CMOS image sensor, would significantly reduce the amount of datato be transmitted and evaluated, the proposed method, if preceding imagepreprocessing is to be avoided, realistically would still requiresignificantly more than 10 000 pixels in order thus to enable asufficiently precise glucose measurement.

In addition to the analysis and proposals outlined above, there moreoveris the requirement from the point of view of metrology that thedimensions of typical measuring instruments are to be kept very small,which leads to significant consequences in terms of the flexibility ofthe optical unit layout. With increasing miniaturization, the lens usedto image a test spot on a detector must have an increasingly higherrefractive index, leading to increasing aberrations. By way of example,this results in the imaging being out of focus at the edges. In ordernot to compromise the image quality any further, the smallest possiblepixels are desirable from an optics point of view. At the same time, thepixel dimensions on the detector are, as a result of the semiconductorprocessing technology of such sensors, generally restricted to values ofat least 4 μm, of preferably more than 8 μm and of particularlypreferably more than 20 μm. This means that semiconductor technology ingeneral requires pixels that are as large as possible, whereas theoptical unit layout requires ones that are as small as possible. Thisconversely leads to the necessity of magnifying imaging and, as aresult, to a further reduction in the imaging quality in practical,cost-effective systems. Furthermore, the requirements on the positionaltolerance of the test field increase in conventional systems with anincreasing magnification scale.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides a device and a method which avoid theabove-described disadvantages of known devices and methods. Inparticular, it should be possible to embody the device as a portablehandheld instrument and said device should, while having simpleelectronics, a simple optical unit and low resource and energyconsumption, be able to perform a reliable optical detection of at leastone analyte in a bodily fluid with high measurement accuracy.

In a first aspect of this disclosure, a device is proposed for detectingat least one analyte in a bodily fluid, which device comprises at leastone test element. By way of example, the device can be embodied as aportable instrument, more particularly as a handheld instrument ormanual instrument, and can, for example, comprise an internal energysource, for example an electrical energy store such as, e.g., a batteryand/or a rechargeable battery. In particular, the device can be embodiedas portable test instrument.

In principle, any types of detectable analytes and/or parameters of thebodily fluid can be considered as an analyte. It is typical for theanalyte to comprise at least one metabolite. Examples of typicaldetectable analytes include glucose, cholesterol, lactate or otheranalytes. In principle, it is also possible to detect combinations ofanalytes. By way of example, blood, interstitial fluid, saliva, urine orother bodily fluids are used as bodily fluid.

The device comprises at least one test element. A test element shouldgenerally be understood to mean an element which is designed such thatit carries out at least one detectable change as a result of theanalyte, for example as a result of contact with the analyte. By way ofexample, the test element can, for this purpose, comprise at least onetest chemical, which can carry out such analyte-specific detection.Examples of such detectable changes are optically detectable changes,for example changes in color or changes in grayscale values and/or otheroptically detectable changes. By way of example, the test element canhave at least one test field which comprises the test chemical. Here, atest field should generally be understood to mean a planar element whichcomprises the at least one test chemical. However, the test field canadditionally comprise a layered design, wherein at least one furtherlayer, for example a separation layer, can be applied in addition to anat least one layer comprising the test chemical. Thus, the test fieldcan for example comprise a sample application area which can for examplebe a surface of the test field. By way of example, a separation layercan be provided as the uppermost layer; it can separate out interferingconstituents of the sample, e.g., red blood cells. The test field canfurthermore comprise at least one detection layer, which in turncomprises the test chemical and which can preferably be provided belowthe optional separation layer. Furthermore, the test field can have adetection side, from which in this case the detectable change can beobserved. By way of example, the detection side can be arranged oppositeto the sample application side. By way of example, the layered designcan be embodied such that the interfering constituents of the samplesuch as, e.g., red blood cells are no longer visible from the detectionside. By contrast, the change in the at least one property should beobservable from the detection side.

The test element comprises at least one at least two-dimensionalevaluation region. By way of example, this evaluation region can bearranged on the detection side of the test element, e.g., of the testfield. By way of example, the evaluation region can be part of thedetection side and can for example be arranged on a side of the testfield lying opposite to the sample application side. In general, anevaluation region should be understood to mean a region of the testfield which is influenced, in an optically identifiable manner, by thesample of the bodily fluid in the case of a test in the device runningaccording to plan. By way of example, this can be the region withinwhich an optically visible change occurs on the detection side when acapillary filled with the sample is pressed onto the sample applicationside, be it as a result of the sample itself or as a result of ananalyte-specific reaction within a test chemical of the test element.Hence, the evaluation region is defined by a use of the device asintended as the part of the test element, more particularly as the partof a detection side of a test field, within which a change occurs duringintended use, e.g., during an intended transfer of the sample onto thetest field. Excluded therefrom are transfer processes which do not runcorrectly, e.g., transfer errors of the sample onto the test element,e.g., flooding of the test element and/or underdosing the sample. By wayof example, the test element can generally comprise a sample applicationregion, onto which sample is transferred in a spatially delimitedfashion when the device is used as intended, wherein the sampleapplication region can for example be arranged on a sample applicationside of the test field. The evaluation region can comprise a regionlying opposite the sample application region, for example a projectionof the sample application region from the sample application side ontothe detection side of a test field. By way of example, the sampleapplication region can have a substantially rectangular shape,corresponding to an outer form of a capillary. In this case, theevaluation region can, for example, also have a substantiallyrectangular design, as projection of the sample application region fromthe sample application side onto the detection side.

The device furthermore comprises at least one spatially resolved opticaldetector. By way of example, this detector can comprise at least onespatially resolved optical sensor, for example a sensor array with aplurality of sensor pixels, i.e., optical individual sensors.Furthermore, as will still be explained in more detail below, thedetector can comprise an optical unit which is designed to image theevaluation region onto the optical sensor, e.g., a sensor chip. By wayof example, this optical unit can comprise one or more lenses and/orother imaging optical systems.

The detector has a multiplicity of pixels, for example as components ofan optical sensor, for example of a sensor chip. Here, pixels shouldgenerally be understood to mean image-sensitive individual sensors,which can for example be arranged in a matrix arrangement. In this case,the detector, for example an optical unit of the detector, is designedto image at least part of the test element onto an image region. Here,an image region can be understood to mean a portion of the sensor pixelsof the detector, more particularly of the optical sensor of thedetector, for example a spatially contiguous portion of sensor pixels ofthe sensor, on which the part of the test element is imaged such thatthese sensor pixels receive image information from the imaged part ofthe test element. By way of example, part of the detection side of thetest element, for example of the test field, can be imaged onto theimage region. In addition to the imaged part of the test element, thedetector can furthermore be designed to image further parts of thedevice, for example part of a lancet and/or capillary, onto the opticalsensor. Accordingly, provision can be made for further image regions,which do not contain images of the test element but rather images ofother parts of the device.

When imaging either the entirety or at least part of the test element,for example when imaging the detection side of the test element or ofthe test field or of part of the detection side, onto the image region,at least part of the evaluation region should be imaged onto anevaluation image region. Hence the evaluation region can be, at least inpart, a component of the part of the test element which is imaged ontothe image region. The evaluation image region is a subset and/or portionand/or part of the image region, for example a contiguous portion ofsensor pixels of the sensor, which receive image information of theevaluation region when the evaluation region is imaged.

Here, it is proposed that the detector is matched to the test elementor, overall, to the device such that a predetermined minimum number ofpixels are provided within the evaluation image region for eachdimension of the evaluation image region. This means that in eachdirection of the evaluation image region, e.g., in an x- and ay-direction, a minimum number of pixels N_(x) and N_(y) are respectivelyprovided. As will still be explained in more detail below, theevaluation image region can for example have a direction y perpendicularto a longitudinal extent of the capillary or of the print of thecapillary or of the image of the capillary on the evaluation imageregion, which is also referred to as transverse dimension or transverseside, and a coordinate x parallel to a longitudinal extent of thecapillary or of the image of the capillary or of the image of the printof the capillary, which can also be referred to as longitudinaldirection or longitudinal side. In particular, the transverse side andthe longitudinal side can be substantially perpendicular to one another.The pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement. Thematrix arrangement has pixel rows and pixel columns. The pixel rows arearranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of theevaluation region and/or of the evaluation image region.

In particular, as illustrated above, the evaluation region can be partof the test element. In particular, this can be part of a test field ofthe test element with at least one detection chemical for detecting theanalyte, for example part of a detection side of the test field. Inparticular, the device can be designed such that bodily fluid istransferred onto a sample application region of the test element, forexample onto a sample application side of a test field, for detectingthe analyte. By way of example, if the device is used as intended, thissample application region can be spatially delimited, for example byvirtue of the latter substantially corresponding to a print of acapillary on the test field, for example on the sample application side,i.e., to a region within which bodily fluid, e.g., blood, is transferredonto the sample application side from the capillary.

In particular, the device can be designed such that bodily fluid, moreparticularly blood and/or interstitial fluid, is transferred onto thetest element for detecting the analyte. As illustrated above, thistransfer can be brought about on a spatially delimited sampleapplication region of a sample application side of a test field.However, in principle, other embodiments are also possible. By way ofexample, the transfer can be brought about by virtue of causing atransfer element to approach the test element, for example at a sampleapplication side of a test field. This approach can lead right up tophysical contact between the transfer element and the sample applicationside of a test field. By way of example, the transfer element can, asillustrated above, comprise a capillary, for example a capillary withina lancet. Such lancets with capillaries are often also referred to asmicrosamplers. The sample application region can in particularcorrespond to the evaluation region, for example by virtue of theevaluation region being a region of the test element, within which, asdescribed above, a change occurs which can be detected by optical meansin the case of a correct transfer of bodily fluid onto the sampleapplication region. By way of example, the evaluation region can be aregion of a test field lying opposite the sample application region, forexample a projection of the sample application region from the sampleapplication side onto the detection side provided that, e.g., lateralexpansion effects when penetrating the test field can be discarded. Byway of example, this is how it is possible to transfer the bodily fluidonto the sample application region on the sample application side of atest field, while detection takes place from the rear side, i.e., fromthe detection side, where an optically detectable change can be detectedwithin the evaluation region.

As illustrated above, the device can in particular comprise at least onelancet element with at least one capillary. By way of example, thedevice can comprise a drive device, by means of which a puncturingmovement of the lancet element can be driven, for example comprising aforward movement (piercing movement) and a return movement. Bodily fluidcan be taken up in the capillary during the piercing procedure and/orduring the return movement. The device can then, in particular, bedesigned to take up bodily fluid by means of the capillary and totransfer bodily fluid onto the test element, in particular onto a testfield with at least one detection chemical, by causing the capillary toapproach the test element. By way of example, this transfer can be ontoa sample application region of a sample application side of the testelement, in particular of the test field. In particular, the approach ofthe capillary to the test element, for example to the sample applicationside of the test field, can be brought about by means of at least oneactuator. Thus, provision can for example be made for an actuator whichcauses the capillary at least partly filled with the bodily fluid toapproach the test field, for example the sample application side, untilthe transfer takes place. By way of example, the capillary can bepressed onto the sample application side of the test field. However, inprinciple, a contact-free approach is also possible, for example anapproach to within such a short distance that there is a sample transferfrom the capillary to the sample application side by means of, e.g.,capillary forces between the lancet and the test field and/or adhesionforces. However, as an alternative to an actuator, or in additionthereto, the device can also have a different design for causing thecapillary to approach the test element. By way of example, the lancet orthe capillary can be guided during the retrieval movement of the lancetsuch that it describes a path in space within which approaching of thetest element, for example the sample application side of the test field,takes place. By way of example, provision can be made for curvedguidance of the lancet, within the scope of which the lancet describes acurved path by means of which the lancet or the capillary is pressedagainst and/or caused to approach the test field. Various otherembodiments or combinations of the aforementioned and/or otherembodiments for causing the capillary to approach the test element arepossible.

As described above, the evaluation region can in particular be a regionof the test element within which an optically detectable change occursas a result of the transfer of the bodily fluid onto the test element.This change can be caused by the bodily fluid itself or, to a greater orlesser extent, by the at least one analyte contained in the bodily fluidand, for example, the reaction of said analyte with the at least onetest chemical. As described above, the evaluation region can thereforein particular be part of a test field, for example part of a detectionside of a test field, which can, for example, also lie opposite a sampleapplication side of the test field, for example by virtue of theevaluation region corresponding to a projection of a sample applicationregion of the sample application side when the device is used asintended. By way of example, the evaluation region can be a region inwhich an optically detectable change, for example a change in colorand/or a change in grayscale value, occurs as a result of the sample. Inparticular, the evaluation region can be an image of the capillary fromthe sample application side onto the detection side, or a portion ofthis projection.

In particular, the capillary can have a width of 50 to 200 μm, moreparticularly of 90 to 150 μm and particularly preferably ofapproximately 120 μm. As an alternative, or in addition thereto, thecapillary can, in particular, have a length of at least 1 mm, moreparticularly at least 2 mm and preferably a length of 2 to 4 mm.Capillaries typically have a depth of 20 to 150 μm, for example a depthof 50 to 120 μm. However, in principle, other dimensions of thecapillary are also possible.

In particular, the device can be designed to recognize the evaluationregion automatically. To this end, the device can for example have anevaluation device, which can for example be wholly or partly integratedinto the detector but which can however also be wholly or partlyarranged externally. By way of example, this evaluation device cancomprise one or more data-processing devices. Alternatively, or inaddition thereto, the evaluation device can however also have a simplerdesign and can for example comprise one or more comparators and/or otherelectronic devices in order to compare signals of the detector, forexample signals of the optical sensor and/or of one or more pixels ofthe optical sensor, to one or more thresholds. As an alternative to theobject of recognizing the evaluation region, or in addition thereto, theevaluation device can also have other objects, for example the objectsof carrying out a data reduction, the object of recognizing workprocesses that are not as intended, the object of preprocessing imagedata or similar objects.

Various methods can be used for automatic recognition of the evaluationregion. A first method variant makes use of the fact that the evaluationregion can preferably constitute a projection of a capillary onto thedetection side of the test element. Accordingly, a pattern recognitionmethod, in which a lancet and/or a capillary of the device isrecognized, can be used in this first method variant. Thus, the devicecan for example be designed such that the capillary protrudes beyond thetest element, such that the detector records not only an image of thedetection side of the test element but also a portion of the lancetand/or of the capillary in which the latter does not rest on the sampleapplication side of the test element. By way of example, as illustratedabove, provision can be made for a test field with a sample applicationside, which the lancet with the capillary is caused to approach, andwith an opposing detection side which is observed by the detector. Ifthe lancet with the capillary protrudes laterally beyond the test field,the detector preferably records part of the lancet and of the capillary,which part is not optically covered by the test field. In particular,the pattern recognition method can be designed such that anextrapolation of the lancet and/or capillary onto the test element isidentified as an evaluation region. Examples of this first methodvariant will be explained in more detail below.

In a second variant of the method or the device, which can be used as analternative or in addition to the variant above, use can be made of asignal-change method. In a signal-change method, changes in the signalsof the optical sensor of the detector are monitored. Here, a region ofthe test element within which an optically detectable change occurs as aresult of transferring the bodily fluid onto the test element isidentified as an evaluation region. As illustrated above, this opticallydetectable change can be a change which is caused by the bodily fluiditself, for example by virtue of the bodily fluid itself leading to adarkening and/or a change in the grayscale value and/or a change in thecolor within the evaluation region on the detection side of the testelement, for example of the test field. However, these optical changescan, alternatively or in addition thereto, also be caused by the analyteto be detected itself. In both cases, the position of the evaluationregion can be determined by means of the signal-change method. By way ofexample, an evaluation region can be recognized and defined byrecognizing inhomogeneities, caused by the capillary edge, in theoptically detectable change, for example in a discoloring and/ordarkening and/or change in a grayscale value.

This aspect of these teachings can also be implemented independently ofthe remaining aspects of this disclosure. Thus, in a coordinate aspect,a method is proposed for recognizing an evaluation region of a testelement, in particular by using a device as described above or in thefollowing text. However, in principle, the use of other types of devicesis also feasible. In general, use is made within the method of at leastone lancet element, for example as per the description above, with atleast one capillary. Bodily fluid held in the capillary is transferredonto the test element, for example onto a sample application side of atest field of the test element. Furthermore, at least one spatiallyresolved optical detector, for example as per the description above, isused to image at least part of the test element, for example part of adetection side of a test field of the test element, onto an imageregion, for example an image region of an optical sensor of thedetector. Here at least part of the evaluation region of the testelement is imaged onto an evaluation image region. The method is carriedout such that the evaluation region is recognized automatically, from amethod selected from the following: a pattern recognition method,wherein, in the pattern recognition method, the lancet and/or thecapillary is recognized, wherein an extrapolation of the lancet and/orof the capillary onto the test element is identified as evaluationregion; and a signal-change method, wherein a region of the test elementwithin which an optically detectable change occurs as a result of thetransfer of the bodily fluid onto the test element is identified asevaluation region. By way of example, the latter method variant can becarried out by means of simple comparison methods, for example bymonitoring one pixel, a plurality of pixels or all pixels of an opticalsensor of the detector, comparing the signals from these pixels withsignals recorded in advance and for example comparing the signal changesto thresholds. If the signal changes exceed predetermined thresholds,the conclusion can for example be drawn that wetting has taken place andthat the associated pixels are arranged within the evaluation region orwithin the evaluation image region. In respect of further possibleembodiments, reference can be made to the description above.

In particular, the detector can be designed such that it, or an opticalsensor of said detector, has a total number of no more than 1000 pixels,preferably a total number of no more than 500 and particularlypreferably a total number of no more than 256 pixels. By way of example,use can be made of detectors which have a longitudinal side and atransverse side. As defined above, the longitudinal side can inparticular be defined as x-direction which in the normal case, i.e., ifthe device is used as intended, is arranged parallel to the capillary orparallel to the image of the capillary in the image region. Accordingly,the transverse side can be aligned perpendicular to the capillary orperpendicular to the image of the capillary and can for example bedefined as y-direction. In particular, the detector can be designed suchthat the latter has at least 3 pixels, preferably no more than 100pixels, more particularly 20 to 50 pixels and particularly preferably 32pixels in the direction of the transverse side. Furthermore, in thedirection of the longitudinal side, i.e., in the x-direction, thedetector can have at least 1 pixel, preferably 2 to 20 pixels, moreparticularly 5 to 10 pixels and particularly preferably 7 pixels.However, in principle, other embodiments are also possible. It isparticularly preferable for the detector to be embodied such that atleast 3 pixels, more particularly 5 to 30 pixels and particularlypreferably 10 pixels are arranged within the evaluation region, i.e.,within the region in which optically detectable changes are noticeableif the device is used as intended and if, for example, bodily fluid istransferred onto the test element as intended.

In particular, as explained above, the evaluation region can have alongitudinal side and a transverse side, more particularly alongitudinal side aligned parallel to the capillary or to the image ofthe capillary on the image region and a transverse side alignedperpendicular to the capillary or the image thereof. As explained above,the transverse side can be defined as y-direction, and the longitudinalside can be defined as x-direction, with these directions preferablybeing substantially perpendicular to one another, for example with adeviation of no more than 5°. Pixels with the same y-coordinate can thenbe referred to as pixel row and pixels with the same x-coordinate can bereferred to as pixel column. In particular, the detector can be designedsuch that at least 3 pixel rows, more particularly 3 to 10 pixel rows,are arranged within the evaluation region in the direction of thetransverse side. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the detector canbe designed such that at least one pixel column, preferably at leastthree pixel columns, more particularly 3 to 10 pixel columns andparticularly preferably 7 pixel columns are arranged in the direction ofthe longitudinal side.

In particular, the pixels can have an elongate pixel geometry. Here, anelongate pixel geometry should be understood to mean a geometry in whichthe pixels have a greater extent along one dimension than along anotherdimension. By way of example, the pixels can have a greater length inthe x-direction than in the y-direction. By way of example, theevaluation region can thus have a longitudinal side and a transverseside, more particularly a longitudinal side aligned parallel to thecapillary and a transverse side aligned perpendicular to the capillary.In particular, the pixels can have a length in the direction of thelongitudinal direction, i.e., for example in the x-direction, and awidth in the direction of the transverse side, preferably in they-direction. Here, the length can preferably exceed the width. Inparticular, the length can exceed the width by at least a factor of 1.3,more particularly by at least a factor of 1.7 or at least a factor of 2and particularly preferably by a factor of 2.3. In practice, such pixelgeometries were found to be particularly suitable for elongatecapillaries with typical dimensions, for example the capillarydimensions illustrated above, in order to reliably capture theevaluation region and evaluate the optically detectable changes. Thelength of the pixels can for example be 10 to 300 μm, preferably 50 to100 μm and particularly preferably 70 μm. The width can for example be 5to 200 μm, preferably 10 to 100 μm and particularly preferably 30 μm.

The pixels are be arranged in a two dimensional matrix arrangement. Thematrix arrangement has pixel rows and pixel columns, for example asdescribed above. Thus, the rows can for example be aligned parallel tothe x-direction, and the pixel columns can be aligned parallel to they-direction. The pixel rows are arranged substantially parallel to thelongitudinal direction of the evaluation region, for examplesubstantially parallel to an image of an axis of longitudinal extent ofthe capillary or of the image of the capillary in the image region.Here, “substantially parallel” can more particularly be understood tomean a deviation from being completely parallel of less than 5°, moreparticularly a deviation of less than 2° and particularly preferably adeviation of 1° or less, more particularly 0°. The longitudinaldirection of the evaluation region, i.e., for example, an axis oflongitudinal extent of the capillary and/or of an image of the capillaryin the image region, can thus be arranged substantially parallel to thepixel rows. This embodiment of the device, particularly in combinationwith the above-described elongate pixels, leads to a particularlyefficient evaluation of the evaluation region in the case of thesmallest possible number of pixels, the option of using large pixelareas and nevertheless having reliable evaluation of a multiplicity ofpixels within the evaluation region.

In particular, the detector can, as already explained above, have aspatially resolving optical unit. This spatially resolving optical unitcan for example have one or more lenses and/or other optical imagingsystems. Furthermore, the spatially resolving optical unit can havefurther optical elements with non-imaging properties, for example stopsor the like. Furthermore, provision can be made for filters, mirrors,other types of optical deflection elements or other optical elements.

The spatially resolving optical unit can in particular be designed toimage the evaluation region on the evaluation image region with amagnification of 3:1 to 0.5:1, preferably with a magnification of 2:1 to0.8:1, particularly preferably with a magnification of 1.1:1 to 0.9:1and ideally of 1:1. Here, a magnification of 3:1 means that theevaluation image region is larger than the evaluation region by a factorof 3. Thus, the optical unit is ideally designed such that it does nothave any magnification in the actual sense of the word, but rather thatthe dimensions of the evaluation image region substantially correspondto the dimensions of the evaluation region.

As described above, determining the evaluation region is based on properwetting. By way of example, the evaluation region can comprise a printof the capillary or a projection of the capillary onto the detectionside. Apart from proper wetting, during which, apart frominhomogeneities in the edge region of the capillary which generallycannot be avoided, bodily fluid is merely transferred from the capillaryonto the test element, for example onto the sample application side,various transfer errors and/or wetting errors may occur. Thus, forexample, the capillary may be filled to an insufficient extent such thattoo small an amount of bodily fluid is transferred onto the sampleapplication side. However, this case of incomplete filling and/orincomplete transfer of bodily fluid onto the test element onlyconstitutes one of a number of error cases. By way of example, this casecan occur if an unsuitable puncturing point into body tissue was chosensuch that, for example, a too small amount of bodily fluid was taken upby the microsampler during a puncturing process and/or sample takingprocess. The opposite case can also occur. By way of example, in thiscase, the whole lancet can be wetted by bodily fluid or blood, which isthen transferred onto the test element such that, for example, the testelement is flooded by bodily fluid. This case can also lead to errors,for example by virtue of, as will still be explained in more detailbelow, no non-wetted regions being available within the image region,i.e., regions outside of the evaluation region which could serve asreference value and/or “blank value” for characterizing the discoloringor the optical change in the test element.

Therefore it is particularly preferable for the device to be designed tocharacterize, more particularly to evaluate, a wetting of the testelement with the bodily fluid. By way of example, this characterizationcan be brought about by virtue of the fact that an evaluation device isprovided, which evaluates signals of the optical sensor of the detector,for example an evaluation device with the above-described features. Byway of example, the evaluation device can characterize the wetting suchthat proper wetting, i.e., a proper transfer of bodily fluid onto thetest element, is distinguished from one or more error cases. By way ofexample, a proper, successful transfer of bodily fluid onto the testelement can be distinguished from a case of flooding, in which bodilyfluid is even transferred from outside of the limits of the capillaryonto the sample application side of the test element, and a case of anunderdose, in which there is incomplete wetting of the sampleapplication side with bodily fluid even within the actual evaluationregion. In particular, the characterization can be undertaken such thatthe device is designed to compare a plurality of pixels to one anotherin at least one dimension. By way of example, it is possible to compareneighboring pixels to one another in at least one direction, for examplein a direction parallel to a longitudinal side of the evaluation region.In particular, there can be a comparison of two or more neighboringpixels in a pixel row aligned parallel to the evaluation region. Inparticular, the signals of the pixels within the evaluation region canbe compared in order to recognize whether pixels which actually shouldindicate wetting in actual fact exhibit such wetting. By way of example,this is a way of recognizing an underdose, for example as a result ofincomplete filling of the capillary and/or an incomplete transfer of thebodily fluid onto the test element. On the other hand, it is possible torecognize if pixels which should not in actual fact indicate wetting,i.e., pixels situated outside of the evaluation region, do in factdetect wetting, as a result of which it is possible for example torecognize flooding and/or an overdose. By way of example, thecharacterization can be brought about such that there is a comparison ofneighboring pixels from one pixel row, which is substantially arrangedparallel to the longitudinal direction of the evaluation region, with,for example, it being possible to make use of a thresholding method. Byway of example, this is how the difference in the signals of neighboringpixels can be formed and compared to at least one threshold. If thedifference exceeds the at least one threshold, it is possible to deducethe presence of, for example, underwetting and/or an underdose and/oranother error. Here, the longitudinal direction of the evaluation regionis preferably substantially aligned parallel to the edges of thecapillary and/or of the capillary channel of the capillary. As explainedabove, the capillary is preferably caused to approach the test element,for example pressed onto the latter, in order to transfer the bodilyfluid. As a result of a comparison of the neighboring pixel of the pixelrow aligned parallel thereto, it is therefore possible to recognize anincorrectly filled capillary and/or an incorrect bodily fluid transfer,for example as a result of incomplete and/or fragmentary filling of thecapillary.

As illustrated above, the detector can in particular be embodied as acompact detector. Thus, the detector can in particular have a detectorassembly, more particularly a detector chip, wherein, for example, theevaluation device can be wholly or partly integrated into the detectorassembly, more particularly the detector chip. The evaluation device canbe designed to carry out a whole or partial image evaluation of theimage region and/or of the evaluation image region. In particular, thedetector chip can be embodied as an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC).

In particular, the device can be designed to recognize a blank value.Here, a blank value characterizes an optical property of the imageregion and/or of the evaluation image region without wetting the testelement with bodily fluid. In particular, the recognition of the blankvalue can in turn take place using an evaluation device, which can bewholly or partly integrated into the detector. In particular, the devicecan be designed to determine the blank value according to one or more ofthe methods described below.

In a first variant of a method which the device, more particularly theevaluation device, can be designed to carry out, it is possible torecord a temporal image sequence. Here, a temporal image sequence shouldbe understood to mean a multiplicity of items of image information fromthe optical sensor, which were recorded at different, successive times,for example images recorded at an interval of 100 ms. The evaluationregion can be determined from this temporal image sequence, for exampleby means of one or more of the above-described methods. Here it ispossible to recognize at least one pixel, preferably a number of pixels,arranged within the evaluation region, and it is possible to determineat least one initial value of the pixel from the temporal image sequenceand use said initial value as blank value. In other words, it ispossible initially to establish the evaluation region from the temporalimage sequence and then to determine one or more initial values for oneor more pixels within the evaluation region from the recorded imagesequence, which initial values can then serve as blank value; thiscorresponds to “rewinding” the film of the image sequence. An advantageof this method lies in the fact that it is possible to determine a blankvalue for each pixel to be evaluated, which blank value preciselycorresponds to this pixel.

Alternatively, or in addition thereto, it is possible to use a method inwhich an initial value of all pixels in the image region is stored, orat least an initial value of a plurality of pixels in the image region.It is then possible to establish the evaluation region from a temporalimage sequence of the pixels. Pixels outside of the evaluation imageregion can be discarded, and so there can be data reduction in thismanner. At least one initial value of a pixel within the evaluationimage region can then be used as a blank value. An advantage offered bythis method variant lies in significant data reduction because it ispossible to discard pixels outside of the evaluation image region duringthe recording of the temporal image sequence as soon as it is clearwhere the evaluation image region is positioned within the image region,and so there is no longer the need to store image sequences of the wholeimage region, but only image sequences of the pixels of the evaluationregion.

In a third method, which can in turn be used as an alternative or inaddition to the above, it is possible to establish the evaluationregion, for example by means of one or more of the above-describedmethods. As a blank value, it is then possible to use at least one pixeloutside of the evaluation image region, i.e., a pixel on which a regionof the test element is imaged that is situated outside of the evaluationimage region, as a blank value. An advantage offered by this methodvariant is that merely a small amount of data needs to be stored. By wayof example, the blank value can be determined solely on the basis of animage after the reaction of the analyte, without there being a need forstoring a history or a temporal image sequence. However, in principle,it is also possible to use other methods for establishing one or moreblank values. Compared to known devices and methods, the proposed deviceand the proposed method have a multiplicity of advantages. Thus, inparticular, this disclosure offers an advantageous alternative to theuse of conventional image sensors with more than 10 000 pixels, as canfor example be used for the histogram analysis according to EP 1 843 148A1. In particular, these teachings are based on the insight that, on theone hand, a spatial resolution preferably with at least approximately 10pixels per capillary width, converted to the image of the capillary onthe image region, is sought after. However, on the other hand, theseteachings are based on the insight that the optical imaging quality isbadly affected by lack of space in small, highly integrated andcost-sensitive instruments, in particular portable instruments. At thesame time, these teachings acknowledge the fact that, from asemiconductor technology point of view, pixels that are as large aspossible are expedient because optical sensors with pixels that are aslarge as possible, for example pixels with the above-described pixelgeometry and/or pixel dimensions, enable a comparatively high fillfactor of the optical sensors.

Thus, according to this disclosure, it is possible, in particular, touse an optical unit with 1:1 imaging. In the process, by using theabove-described device in one or more of the above-described variants,it is possible, in particular, to increase the area per pixel andaccordingly reduce the number of pixels. Reducing the amount of data andthe data-analysis complexity accompanies a reduction in the number ofpixels, for example to the above-described pixel numbers of the opticalsensor, and so it is possible to achieve an improvement in all of theabove-described critical boundary conditions of the device. At the sametime, it is possible to match the pixel geometry to the detection methodand the implementation, for example by a rectangular design of thepixels, wherein the pixel geometry can in particular be matchedspecifically to the geometry of the evaluation region, for example ofthe measurement spot, e.g., as a result of the capillary geometry.

In conclusion, the following embodiments are considered to beparticularly advantageous within the scope of this disclosure:

EMBODIMENT 1

A device for detecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid,comprising at least one test element with at least one two-dimensionalevaluation region, furthermore comprising at least one spatiallyresolving optical detector having a plurality of pixels, wherein thedetector is designed to image at least part of the test element onto animage region, wherein at least part of the evaluation region is imagedonto an evaluation image region, wherein the detector is matched to thetest element such that a predetermined minimum number of pixels isprovided for each dimension within the evaluation image region, whereinthe pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix arrangement, whereinthe matrix arrangement has pixel rows and pixel columns, wherein thepixel rows are arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinaldirection of the evaluation region and/or of the evaluation imageregion.

EMBODIMENT 2

The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the evaluationregion is part of the test element, wherein the device is embodied suchthat bodily fluid is transferred onto the test element for detecting theanalyte.

EMBODIMENT 3

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedevice comprises at least one lancet element with at least onecapillary.

EMBODIMENT 4

The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the device isdesigned to take up bodily fluid by means of the capillary, wherein thedevice is furthermore designed to transfer bodily fluid onto the testelement by causing the capillary to approach the test element.

EMBODIMENT 5

The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the evaluationregion is a region of the test element, in which an optically detectablechange occurs as a result of transferring the bodily fluid onto the testelement.

EMBODIMENT 6

The device according to one of the three preceding embodiments, whereinthe capillary has one or more of the following dimensions:

-   -   a width of 50-200 μm, more particularly of 90-150 μm and        particularly preferably of 120 μm;    -   a length of at least 1 mm, more particularly of at least 2 mm        and preferably a length of 2-4 mm.

EMBODIMENT 7

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedevice is designed to recognize the evaluation region automatically.

EMBODIMENT 8

The device according to the preceding embodiment, wherein the device isdesigned to recognize the evaluation region according to method selectedfrom the group consisting of:

-   -   a pattern recognition method, wherein the device comprises at        least one lancet element and/or at least one capillary, wherein,        in the pattern recognition method, the lancet element and/or the        capillary of the device are recognized, wherein an extrapolation        of the lancet element and/or of the capillary onto the test        element is identified as evaluation region; and    -   a signal-change method, wherein a region of the test element        within which an optically detectable change occurs as a result        of a transfer of the bodily fluid onto the test element is        identified as evaluation region.

EMBODIMENT 9

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedetector has a total number of no more than 1000 pixels, preferably atotal number of no more than 500 and particularly preferably a totalnumber of no more than 256 pixels.

EMBODIMENT 10

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedetector has a longitudinal side and a transverse side, moreparticularly a longitudinal side aligned parallel to a capillary of thedevice and a transverse side arranged perpendicular to the capillary,wherein the detector has at least 3 pixel rows, preferably no more than100 pixel rows, more particularly 20-50 pixel rows in the direction ofthe transverse side, wherein the detector furthermore has at least 1pixel column, preferably 2-20 pixel columns, more particularly 5-10pixel columns and particularly preferably 7 pixel columns in thedirection of the longitudinal side.

EMBODIMENT 11

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein atleast 3 pixels, more particularly 5-30 pixels and particularlypreferably 10 pixels are arranged in the evaluation region.

EMBODIMENT 12

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein theevaluation region has a longitudinal side and a transverse side, moreparticularly a longitudinal side aligned parallel to a capillary of thedevice and a transverse side arranged perpendicular to the capillary,wherein the detector is designed such that at least 3 pixel rows, moreparticularly 3-10 pixel rows are arranged in the direction of thetransverse side within the evaluation region, and wherein the detectoris furthermore designed such that at least 1 pixel column, preferably atleast 3 pixel columns, more particularly 3-10 pixel columns andparticularly preferably 7 pixel columns are arranged in the direction ofthe longitudinal side.

EMBODIMENT 13

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thepixels have an elongate pixel geometry, wherein the evaluation regionhas a longitudinal side and a transverse side, more particularly alongitudinal side aligned parallel to a capillary of the device and atransverse side arranged perpendicular to the capillary, wherein thepixels have a length in the direction of the longitudinal direction andwherein the pixels have a width in the direction of the transverse side,wherein the length exceeds the width, preferably by at least a factor of1.3, more particularly by at least a factor of 1.7 or at least a factorof 2 and particularly preferably by a factor of 2.3.

EMBODIMENT 14

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedetector has a spatially resolving optical unit, wherein the spatiallyresolving optical unit is designed to image the evaluation region ontothe evaluation image region with a magnification of 3:1 to 0.5:1,preferably with a magnification of 2:1 to 0.8:1, particularly preferablywith a magnification of 1.1:1 to 0.9:1 and ideally of 1:1.

EMBODIMENT 15

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedevice is designed to characterize, more particularly evaluate, awetting of the test element with the bodily fluid, wherein the device isdesigned to carry out the characterization by comparing a plurality ofpixels in at least one dimension, preferably by comparing adjacentpixels of a pixel row aligned parallel to the evaluation region.

EMBODIMENT 16

The device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein thedevice is designed to recognize a blank value, wherein the blank valueis an optical property of the image region and/or of the evaluationimage region without wetting of the test element with bodily fluid,wherein the device is designed to determine the blank value according toa method, selected from the group consisting of the following methods:

-   -   recording a temporal image sequence, wherein the evaluation        region is determined, wherein at least one pixel arranged within        the evaluation region is recognized and an initial value of the        pixel is determined from the temporal image sequence and used as        blank value;    -   an initial value of the pixels of the image region is stored,        the evaluation region is established from a temporal image        sequence of the pixels, pixels outside of the evaluation region        are discarded and at least one initial value of a pixel within        the evaluation region is used as blank value; and    -   the evaluation region is established, at least one pixel from        outside of the evaluation region is used as blank value.

EMBODIMENT 17

A method for recognizing an evaluation region of a test element fordetecting at least one analyte in a bodily fluid, in particular by usinga device according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein use ismade of at least one lancet element with at least one capillary, whereinbodily fluid taken up into the capillary is transferred onto the testelement, wherein at least one spatially resolved optical detector isused to image at least part of the test element onto an image region,wherein at least part of the evaluation region of the test element isimaged onto an evaluation image region, wherein the evaluation region isautomatically recognized according to a method selected from the groupconsisting of:

-   -   a pattern recognition method, wherein, in the pattern        recognition method, the lancet element (114) and/or the        capillary (116) are recognized, wherein an extrapolation of the        lancet element (114) and/or of the capillary (116) onto the test        element (120) is identified as evaluation region (136); and    -   a signal-change method, wherein a region of the test element        (120) within which an optically detectable change occurs as a        result of the transfer of the bodily fluid onto the test element        (120) is identified as evaluation region (136).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become moreapparent and will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of the embodiments taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to thisdisclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 3A contrast a conventional image of an evaluation region(FIG. 2A) and an image according to this disclosure (FIG. 3A);

FIGS. 2B and 3B show a comparison between a conventional device (FIG.2B) and a device according to this disclosure (FIG. 3B), in aperspective illustration;

FIGS. 4 to 7 show measurement errors in various dimensions when usingconventional detectors (FIGS. 4 and 6) compared to detectors accordingto this disclosure (FIGS. 5 and 7); and

FIGS. 8A to 8C contrast a proper sample transfer (FIG. 8A) and varioustransfer errors (FIGS. 8B and 8C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a highly schematic exploded illustration, FIG. 1 illustrates a device110 according to this disclosure for detecting at least one analyte in abodily fluid. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the device 110comprises a microsampler 112 with a lancet element 114 and a capillary116. By way of example, this can be a metallic lancet, into which thecapillary 116 has been inset as capillary gap. By way of example, thelancet element 114 can be driven to make a puncturing movement, forexample by a drive device 118, for example one or more actuators (forexample spring-driven actuators), with, for example, a piercing into theskin of a user taking place during a forward movement and a collectionof bodily fluid in the capillary 116 taking place during a returnmovement.

The device 110 furthermore comprises at least one test element 120 inthe illustrated exemplary embodiment. In particular, this test element120 can comprise at least one test field 122, for example a test field122 of a test strip and/or of a test tape with a plurality of testfields 122 and/or of a test disk with a plurality of test fields 122. Inprinciple, other embodiments are also possible. By way of example,provision can be made for a plurality of microsamplers, withrespectively one test field 122 being associated with each of them. Byway of example, a microsampler 112 and at least one test field 122 canrespectively be held in a chamber and together form a test. Otherembodiments are also possible.

By way of example, the test field 122 can comprise a detection layer 124with at least one test chemical which, when the at least one analyte tobe detected is present, carries out an optically detectable andpreferably analyte-specific reaction and/or experiences a detectablechange. In respect of conventional test chemicals, reference can forexample be made to the prior art described above. The test field 122 canfurthermore comprise additional layers, for example one or moreseparation layers 126, which separate unwanted constituents of thesample of the bodily fluid, for example red blood cells which interferewith an optical detection, before the sample reaches the detection layer124. Furthermore, the separation layer 126 can have reflectiveproperties, for example by virtue of this comprising one or morereflecting substances, for example white pigments.

The test element 120 has a sample application side 128, on which, withina sample application region 130, at least part of the sample of thebodily fluid held in the capillary 116 is transferred onto the testfield 122. To this end, the device 110 can comprise an approach device132, which is designed to cause the capillary 116 to approach the sampleapplication region 130 of the test field 122 after the sample is takenup into the capillary 116. By way of example, the approach device 132can comprise one or more actuators, which actively cause the lancetelement 114 to approach the test field 122, for example press it ontothe latter. However, alternatively, or in addition thereto, the approachdevice 132 can also interact with the drive device 118, for example byvirtue of the capillary 116 being caused to approach the test field 122by a corresponding guide of the lancet element 114 when the lancetelement 114 is withdrawn after a sample application movement. However,it is particularly preferable for the approach device 132 to have atleast one actuator, for example a plunger, which presses the lancetelement 114 onto the test field 122 such that a defined sampleapplication region 130 is created, which is wetted by the sample in adefined manner.

A detection side 134 is provided on the side of the test element 120opposite the sample application side 128. After the sample istransferred from the capillary 116 onto the sample application region130 of the sample application side 128, an evaluation region 136 isformed on this detection side 134. By way of example, this evaluationregion 136 can be a projection of the sample application region 130 inthe case of a proper transfer of bodily fluid from the capillary 116onto the sample application side 128. The evaluation region 136 cantherefore in particular characterize the region of the detection side134 within which an optically detectable change occurs after a propertransfer of the sample from the capillary 116 onto the test field 122.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the device 110 furthermorecomprises at least one detector 138, which, in the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, is made up of a number of parts, but it can also be combinedto form a common part, for example a detector assembly. The detector 138for example comprises at least one light source 140 for illuminating thedetection side 134, which light source can for example comprise alight-emitting diode. The detector 138 moreover comprises an opticalunit 142, which is illustrated in a greatly simplified form in FIG. 1and which, for example, can have one or more lenses. In the illustratedexemplary embodiment, the detector 138 furthermore comprises an opticalsensor 144, for example a CCD chip and/or CMOS chip, which comprises aplurality of pixels 146 in a matrix arrangement. The pixels 146preferably have a rectangular design and, with their longitudinal side,are aligned parallel to a longitudinal extent of the capillary 116 orthe evaluation region 136 along an x-direction and, with their narrowertransverse side, are aligned perpendicular to this direction oflongitudinal extent in a y-direction. The optical unit 142 is designedto image part of the test element 120, more particularly part of thedetection side 134 of the test element 120, on the optical sensor 144.It is additionally possible for further parts of the device 110 to beimaged. Thus, for example, it is possible past the edge of the testfield 122 to image onto the optical sensor 144 part of the microsampler112, preferably together with part of the capillary 116, by means of thedetector 138 or by means of the optical unit 142 such that it ispreferably possible for part of the capillary 116 to be observeddirectly. This is how a plurality of regions are preferably created onthe optical sensor 144. This is how an image region 148, illustrated bydots in FIG. 1, is formed, on which the test element 120 and/or part ofthis test element 120, for example part of the detection side 134 of thetest field 122, is imaged. Within this image region 148, the evaluationregion 136 is imaged on an evaluation image region 150, which isillustrated in shaded fashion in FIG. 1. Furthermore, a region isoptionally formed on the optical sensor 144, on which no constituents ofthe test element 120 are imaged. By way of example, an image 152 of thelancet element 114 can be created in this region, with an image 154 ofthe capillary 116, which image was recorded past the edge of the testfield 120. The evaluation image region 150 thus substantiallyconstitutes a continuation of this image 154 of the capillary 116, asillustrated symbolically in FIG. 1.

The device 110, more particularly the detector 138, can furthermorecomprise at least one evaluation device 156, which is indicatedsymbolically in FIG. 1. The latter can also be wholly or partlyintegrated into the detector 138, for example into a detector assembly.By way of example, as illustrated above, the evaluation device 156 cancomprise at least one data processing device, for example at least onemicrocontroller, and/or other electronic components such as, e.g., logiccomponents and/or memory components. By way of example, the evaluationdevice can, together with other components of the device 110, bedesigned to carry out a method according to this disclosure. Theevaluation device 156 can for example carry out an image evaluation.

As illustrated above, an essential idea of this disclosure consists ofusing as detector 138 a detector with macro-pixels 146, i.e., largepixels, compared to conventional CMOS camera sensors. This isillustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, which show images on such opticalsensors 144 in an exemplary fashion. Here, FIG. 2A shows a conventionalCMOS chip, whereas FIG. 3A shows an optical sensor 144 with“macro-pixels”146, which are particularly preferred within the scope ofthis disclosure. While there conventionally is a histogram evaluation inthe case of the CMOS sensor 144 as per FIG. 2A, as described in, e.g.,EP 1 843 148 A1, an almost conventional evaluation can take place in thecase of the detector 138 with the macro-pixels 146 as per the device 110according to this disclosure, in which conventional evaluation forexample the signals of each individual pixel 146 are stored and/oranalyzed, for example with the aid of the evaluation device 156.

TABLE 1 Comparison of the properties of a conventional camera detectionwith histogram analysis and 3:1 imaging (central column) and amacro-pixel detection with 1:1 imaging (right-hand column). CameraMacro-pixel Imaging Magnification 3:1 1:1 Tolerances + +Producibility + + Volume for optical unit and   2.57 cm³   1.77 cm³optoelectronics Optical sensor Number of pixels ~65 000 ≤256 Number ofpixels with   ~2500 ~10 glucose information Pixel dimensions 20 × 20 μm²30 × 70 μm² Data transfer und Data analysis Pre-analysis on the sensorRequired If desired chip Memory requirements per 256 × 2 byte 256 × 2byte cycle (i.e., per 10 ms . . . 100 ms) Analysis method Histogramanalysis Special (simple) algorithm

Table 1 compares conventional methods (column: “Camera”) to analysismethods using a device 110 according to this disclosure withmacro-pixels. Here, optical units were used in the conventional method,having a magnification of 3:1 as is typically required for imaging usingCMOS chips. There is a total of approximately 65 000 pixels, of whichapproximately 2500 pixels in fact carry information in respect of theanalyte (referred to as glucose information in this case), i.e., arepixels within the evaluation image region 150. The pixel dimensions aretypically 20×20 μm² and these are square pixels. In the case of suchmethods, a pre-analysis of the data is typically necessary on the sensorchip itself because otherwise it is not possible to ensure the highimage recording rates. This usually results in an amount of data percycle of 256×2 bytes in the case of an image recording every 10 ms to100 ms. By way of example, a histogram analysis can be used as analysismethod.

By contrast, in the device 110 according to this disclosure, which usesmacro-pixels 146, there was imaging with a magnification scale of 1:1using the optical unit 142 in the illustrated series of tests. While thevolume for the optical unit and the optoelectronics, i.e., the wholedetector assembly, was approximately 2.57 cm³ in the conventionaldevices, the volume for the optical unit and optoelectronics could,according to this disclosure, be reduced to 1.77 cm³ in the device 110.The number of pixels was no more than 256. Of these, approximately 10pixels carried glucose information. In the illustrated exemplaryembodiment, the macro-pixels 146 had pixel dimensions of 30×70 μm² and arectangular shape. There was no need for pre-analysis, e.g.,pre-processing, of data on the sensor chip, although it can in principlebe carried out if so desired. The memory requirements per cycle do notchange in principle, even without pre-processing of the data. In thecase of such small amounts of data as a result of the small number ofmacro-pixels, it is possible to use a special, simplified algorithm inorder to determine the concentration of the analyte in the bodily fluid.By way of example, this algorithm can contain an evaluation of allpixels 146 arranged within the evaluation image region 150 or merely ofcentral pixels.

By way of example, the evaluation image region 150 within the imageregion 148 can be recognized at first for this purpose, for example bymeans of one of the above-described methods. Thus, for example, it ispossible to recognize a discoloring and/or a grayscale value change inthe macro-pixels 146, as a result of which the evaluation image region150 is defined. Subsequently, one or more macro-pixels 146, preferablysituated centrally within the evaluation image region 150, can be usedto read out the image information therefrom. By way of example, it ispossible to recognize the evaluation image region 150 as a result of achange of grayscale values and/or as a result of recognizing the image154 of the capillary, the continuation and/or extrapolation of whichinto the image region 148 constituting the evaluation image region 150.By way of example, the pixels 146 can be arranged in pixel rows 158parallel to the x-direction, and hence parallel to the capillary 116,and in pixel columns 160 in the y-direction. The pixel row 158 situatedfurthest in the center of the evaluation image region 150 can forexample be used for the evaluation. Alternatively, it is also possibleto use a plurality of pixel rows 158 and/or parts of these pixel rows.

FIGS. 2B and 3B contrast detector assemblies 162 of conventional devices(FIG. 2B) and of devices according to this disclosure (FIG. 3B). Here,the reference sign 120 once again denotes a test element, for example atest field. By way of example, the test element 120 can be arranged inmovable fashion relative to the detector assembly 162, for example aspart of an analysis tape. Arranged below the test element 120 in theillustrated exemplary embodiment there is a light source 140 (notresolved in any more detail in the figures) and, optionally, adeflection device 164, which guides reflected light to optical sensors144, to a CMOS chip with typically more than 10 000 pixels in the caseof FIG. 2B and to an optical sensor 144 with macro-pixels 146,preferably with no more than 256 macro-pixels in the case of the FIG. 3Baccording to this disclosure. In the beam path, provision is furthermoremade for an optical unit 142; to be precise, for an optical unit with amagnification of 3:1 and accordingly a greater installation space in theexemplary embodiment as per FIG. 2B and for an optical unit withpreferably a magnification of 1:1 in the case of FIG. 3B according tothis disclosure. It emerges clearly from FIGS. 2B and 3B that theinstallation space requirements of the embodiment according to thisdisclosure in FIG. 3B are significantly smaller than the installationspace requirements as per FIG. 2B.

FIGS. 4 to 7 contrast comparison trials between conventional CMOS chipsas per FIG. 2A and optical sensors 144 with macro-pixels 146, forexample as per FIG. 3A. Plotted in each case on the vertical axis, whichis respectively denoted by F, is an overall error of aglucose-concentration determination in percent. Plotted on thehorizontal axis are a number of pixels of the optical sensor 144. HereN_(y) denotes the number of pixels perpendicular to the capillary 116 orthe image thereof (FIGS. 4 and 5), i.e., the number of pixel rows 158 onthe optical sensor 144, and N_(x) denotes the number of pixels 146parallel to the capillary 116 or the image thereof (FIGS. 6 and 7),i.e., the number of pixel columns 160 per optical sensor 144. Here,FIGS. 4 and 6 show experiments with conventional CMOS sensor chips, withthe filled circles representing measurement points where the wholecamera image was evaluated. The filled squares denote measurement pointswhere a region of interest (ROI) was initially selected in advance,i.e., prior to data analysis, within which ROI the evaluation then tookplace. The latter demands significant requirements in respect of timeand computation power, and hence resources, in the evaluation device156. By contrast, FIGS. 5 and 7 show measurement points for devices 110according to this disclosure with macro-pixels 146 (filled triangles).The trials were carried out using capillaries 116 with a width of 120μm. While pixel dimensions of 20×20 μm² were used in the conventionalCMOS chips, pixels with dimensions of 30×70 μm² (i.e., 30 μm in they-direction and 70 μm in the x-direction) were used as macro-pixels 146according to this disclosure which, as indicated in FIG. 3A, werealigned parallel to the capillary 116 with their longer side.

It emerges from the comparison of the substantially identical FIGS. 6and 7 that conventional sensor chips with conventional evaluationmethods only have reliable results once there are approximately 200 to250 pixels in the x- and y-directions. By contrast, in devices 110according to this disclosure with macro-pixels 146, a characteristicminimum already forms once there are approximately 5 pixel columns (thedifferent scales of the vertical axes in FIGS. 7 and 6 should be noted)and small errors can already be recorded in FIG. 7 in the case of lessthan 5 pixel columns, said errors being comparable to errors which inFIG. 6 only occur once there are approximately 250 pixels. Accordingly,it is also possible, for example, to use 3 pixel columns 160 with greataccuracy. In the y-direction, it is likewise possible already to recorda very small error in the case of a very small number of pixels or avery small number of pixel rows 158, which error is likewise comparableto the errors occurring in FIG. 4 once there are 200 or 250 pixels.Thus, as emerges from, e.g., FIG. 5, it is possible to use opticalsensors 144 with 30 macro-pixels 144 in the y-direction, or 30 pixelrows 158, to outstanding effect. In particular, a detailed analysis hasshown that optical sensors 144 with 32 pixel rows 158 and 7 pixelcolumns 160, with pixel dimensions of 30 μm×120 μm, are alreadysufficient to enable good evaluation.

In this case, it should also be noted in particular that each pixel 146typically requires a circuit with in each case at least threetransistors as a result of the high demands in respect of thephotometric measurement accuracies, for example in the case ofconventional CMOS techniques. Thus, on a conventional sensor 144, e.g.,a CMOS chip, the ratio of photosensitive area to overall area of eachpixel including the electronics, i.e., the so-called fill factor,reduces with decreasing size of the pixels 146. In the case ofconventional CMOS chips, such as the chips illustrated in FIG. 2A, thefill factor is typically merely between 10% and 30%. By contrast, if useis made of the proposed macro-pixels 146, the fill factor in turn isestimated to increase to over 80%, and so the signal yield is higher andhence the reliability, in particular the signal-to-noise ratio, and/orcurrent requirements are more expedient as result of the option ofreducing a light power of the light source 140 while maintaining thesame signal quality.

As described above, there can be an automatic identification of theevaluation region 136. In the process, the evaluation region 136 can bedetermined in both x- and y-directions, or merely in one of thesedirections. It is particularly expedient for the evaluation region 136to be determined at least in the y-direction, i.e., perpendicular to thecapillary 116 or the image thereof, within the image region 148. Here,the vertical position of the capillary 116 or of the evaluation imageregion 150 can in particular be recognized using a simple algorithm. Inparticular, the latter can be based on forming the difference in timefor each pixel 146. By way of example, as soon as two or more pixels 144neighboring one another in the horizontal direction in FIG. 3Aexperience the same change, i.e., a change which is the same (with theexception of a predetermined tolerance region of, e.g., 5% or less), itis then possible to deduce that these pixels 146 are arranged within theevaluation image region 150. In the case of 32 pixel rows 158 and animage section of, e.g., 1 mm and a magnification of 1:1 (which is thepreferred solution), the above-described capillary width of 120 μm forexample corresponds to precisely 4 pixel heights, and so at least onepixel row 158 or in actual fact even at least two pixel rows is/arealways lying within the evaluation image region 150, i.e., within theimage of the capillary 116, and can thus measure discolorationindependently of the edge effects of the capillary 116, which can forexample be pressed onto the test field 122.

Furthermore, according to this disclosure, there can optionally be anearly recognition of the capillary 116 and/or of the evaluation imageregion 150 by a starting detectable change on the detection side 134,for example by a starting discoloring and/or shadowing on the detectionside 134. Accordingly, it is already possible to deduce the evaluationimage region 150 from the starting discoloring before a detectionreaction has run its complete course. However, more precise analyseshave shown that the capillary 116 can be recognized very early, i.e.,optionally even before the actual contact between the sample or thecapillary 116 and the test field 122, if, as described above, thedetection geometry of the detector 138 is designed such that not onlythe test field 122 or part thereof with the capillary 116 thereofsituated over it are measured, but that additionally a narrow strip atthe edge detects the actual capillary 116 without the test field 122.This was described above on the basis of FIG. 1. Such regions, in whichan image 154 of the capillary 116 can be recognized outside of the testfield 122, are illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A. The capillary 116 can bedetermined in a very simple and reliable fashion in these images. If theimage 154 of the capillary 116 is detected, it is thus possible torecognize or determine the region, e.g., the pixel rows 158, of theexpected discoloration and hence the evaluation image region 150 byextrapolation toward the right-hand side in FIG. 3A. The advantage ofthis lies in the fact that a blank value can be measured prior towetting within the evaluation image region 150, without requiring bufferstorage of data. Without this simple capillary detection, it isgenerally necessary at first to buffer store a complete blank image sothat it is possible at a later stage, i.e., when the capillary positionis recognized, to use precisely the corresponding row from the blankimage to establish the blank value, although this blank image merelystill comprises, e.g., 32×7=224 pixels 146 or the information therefromin the case of the macro-pixels.

Furthermore, as described above, the device 110 can also be designed tocharacterize a transfer of the sample from the microsampler 112 onto thetest element 120. In particular, this characterization can be designedsuch that a correct sample transfer is in the process distinguished fromtransfer errors or filling errors. This is illustrated in FIGS. 8A to8C. While FIG. 8A shows correct filling of the capillary 116, followedby a correct transfer onto the evaluation region 136, FIG. 8B shows acase in which the capillary 116 was not filled completely and/or inwhich there was an incomplete transfer of a sample from the capillary116 onto the sample application region 130, i.e., under-wetting. Bycontrast, FIG. 8C shows a case in which there was an overflow, i.e.,over-wetting or flooding.

Within the scope of the proposed device 110 with the macro-pixels 146which can be realized easily from a manufacturing point of view, sucherrors can be recognized by way of example by means of a simple logicquery. Thus, for example, it is possible to carry out a logic query asto whether all pixels 146 within a pixel row 158 have the same grayscalevalue or the same signal, for example within a narrow error toleranceof, e.g., less than 5%. This renders it possible to recognizeunder-wetting as per FIG. 8B. Furthermore, in order to recognizeflooding as per FIG. 8C, it is possible to query whether or not adifferent grayscale value or a different signal is created after wettingat, e.g., 10 pixel rows 158 above the capillary 116 or the image thereofon the optical sensor 144 and/or at a different predetermined offset. Byway of example, this would not be the case in the case shown in FIG. 8C.If no deviation is recognized, this makes it possible to infer floodingas per FIG. 8C. However, in principle, it is also possible to use otheralgorithms for identifying wetting errors.

While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the presentinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, thisapplication is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations ofthe invention using its general principles. Further, this application isintended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as comewithin known or customary practice in the art to which this inventionpertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   110 Device for detecting an analyte-   112 Microsampler-   114 Lancet element-   116 Capillary-   118 Drive device-   120 Test element-   122 Test field-   124 Detection layer-   126 Separation layer-   128 Sample application side-   130 Sample application region-   132 Approach device-   134 Detection side-   136 Evaluation region-   138 Detector-   140 Light source-   142 Optical unit-   144 Optical sensor-   146 Pixel-   148 Image region-   150 Evaluation image region-   152 Image of the lancet element-   154 Image of the capillary-   156 Evaluation device-   158 Pixel rows-   160 Pixel columns-   162 Detector assembly-   164 Deflection device

1-40. (canceled)
 41. A device for detecting an analyte in a bodilyfluid, comprising: a test element having a two-dimensional evaluationregion; and a spatially resolving optical detector having a longitudinalside and a transverse side and a plurality of pixels, the detector beingconfigured to image at least part of the test element that is positionedoutside of the evaluation region onto an image region and to image atleast part of the evaluation region onto an evaluation image region. 42.A device for detecting an analyte in a bodily fluid as claimed in claim41, wherein the detector is matched to the test element such that apredetermined minimum number of pixels is provided for each dimensionwithin the evaluation image region and the pixels are arranged in atwo-dimensional matrix having pixel rows and pixel columns.
 43. A devicefor detecting an analyte in a bodily fluid as claimed in claim 41,wherein the pixels are image-sensitive individual sensors.
 44. Thedevice of claim 41, further comprising a lancet element having acapillary, the capillary being configured to take up bodily fluid andthe device being configured to cause the capillary to approach the testelement to transfer bodily fluid onto the test element.
 45. The deviceof claim 44, wherein the detector is configured to image the lancetand/or the capillary onto the image region.
 46. The device of claim 44,wherein, the evaluation region is a region of the test element in whichan optically detectable change occurs as a result of transferring thebodily fluid onto the test element.
 47. The device of claim 41, whereinthe device is configured to recognize the evaluation regionautomatically.
 48. The device as claimed in claim 47, wherein the deviceis configured to recognize the evaluation region according to one ormore of the following: a pattern recognition method, wherein there is atleast one element selected from the group consisting of a lancet elementand a capillary imaged in the image region, the element is recognizedand an extrapolation of the element onto the test element is identifiedas the evaluation region; a signal-change method, wherein a region ofthe test element within which an optically detectable change occurs as aresult of a transfer of the bodily fluid onto the test element isidentified as the evaluation region.
 49. The device in claim 48, whereindata from pixels outside the evaluation image region is discardedimmediately after the evaluation image region is located within theimage region.
 50. The device as claimed in claim 41, wherein theevaluation region has a longitudinal side and a transverse side, whereinthe detector has at least 3 pixel rows in the direction of thetransverse side of the evaluation region and at least 1 pixel column inthe direction of the longitudinal side of the evaluation region.
 51. Thedevice as claimed in claim 50, wherein the longitudinal side of theevaluation region is aligned parallel to a capillary of the device andthe transverse side is arranged perpendicular to the capillary.
 52. Thedevice as claimed in claim 41, wherein the pixels have an elongate pixelgeometry, wherein the evaluation region has a longitudinal side and atransverse side, wherein the pixels have a length in the direction ofthe longitudinal direction of the evaluation region and wherein thepixels have a width in the direction of the transverse side of theevaluation region, wherein the length exceeds the width.
 53. The deviceas claimed in claim 52, wherein the longitudinal side of the evaluationregion is aligned parallel to the capillary and the transverse side ofthe evaluation region is arranged perpendicular to the capillary. 54.The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to evaluate awetting of the test element with the bodily fluid by comparing aplurality of pixels in at least one dimension.
 55. The device of claim54, wherein the device is configured to evaluate a wetting of the testelement with the bodily fluid by comparing adjacent pixels of a pixelrow aligned parallel to the evaluation region.
 56. The device as claimedin claim 41, wherein the device is configured to recognize a blankvalue, wherein the blank value is an optical property of at least one ofthe image region or the evaluation image region, wherein the device isconfigured to determine the blank value by one or more of the following:recording a temporal image sequence wherein at least one pixel arrangedwithin the evaluation region is recognized and an initial value of thepixel is determined from the temporal image sequence and used as blankvalue; an initial value of the pixels of the image region is stored, theevaluation region is established from a temporal image sequence of thepixels, pixels outside of the evaluation region are discarded and atleast one initial value of a pixel within the evaluation region is usedas blank value; the evaluation region is established and at least onepixel from outside of the evaluation region is used as blank value.